Advice needed

mld

I know that no one is a doctor, BUT,

I had a fall a week last Friday. I was walking up the steps to our flat and just couldn't get my foot high enough to make the last step. Right hip and knee complained. So, I fell headlong along the corridor, but I stopped my fall by putting out my left hand.

On the Sunday I had 4 X-rays taken of it as the hospital thought I might have broken the scaphoid (?) bone in my wrist. But no I hadn't and it is probably just sprained.

However, I have had pins and needles in my thumb since last Wednesday morning. I went to the GPs and saw a nurse who thinks it might be the swelling (I can't see any) that is pinching a nerve.

Has anyone else with RA had pins and needles in a thumb after a fall and/or have you any advice?

By the way I have an appointment to see the Rheumy on next Tuesday.

Margaret

dreamdaisy

Oh dear mld, you poor thing, what a nasty tumble. I have pins and needles etc in both hands but that is due to carpal tunnel syndrome, i.e. pressure on the carpal nerve caused by the narrowing of the tunnel it passes through. It's not restricted to one digit though, it's all of them.

From what you have said I reckon (and yes, I'm not a doc!) that the nurse is on the right track. Just because we can't see swelling doesn't mean it isn't there. I have no advice to offer but please mention this to your rheumatologist when you see him. I hope things heal soon and that you are feeling better after this tumble. Take care and please let us know how you get lon. DD

barbara12

Oh Margaret ..it must have shaken you up, I am the worlds worse for falling, all I can say it if you have jarred it the the nerve could be pinched, but I dont have RA so I cant comment on that.
I do hope it is something that will clear on its own xx
Sorry I meant to say welcome I dont think we have met

stickywicket

I'm sorry about that, Margaret. It must have been very unsettling at the time and a continuing worry afterwards.

I think you're doing all the right things and, yes, I'd mention it to the rheumatologist too. The nure is probably right but no harm in getting another opinion. I hope it eases off soon.

tillytop

I'm so sorry about your nasty fall Margaret.

Re the thumb pins and needles - my husband fell badly on his shoulder a few years ago and displaced his clavicle. Since then he has periodic problems with this shoulder, neck and arm. Currently he also has permanent pins and needles in his thumb which the physio puts down to pinching of the nerve which runs from the shoulder all the way down the arm. Now I know if was your wrist you landed on when you fell, but if it's the same nerve which runs from the shoulder right the way down into the thumb, it makes me wonder if it is a trapped nerve caused by the fall. Since the pins and needles have only come on since your fall, I think that it likely to be the cause, rather than the RA. But I agree with the others that mentioning it to the rheum would be a good idea - because he may well be able to refer you to the appropriate person/for the appropriate tests to check it out for you.

Hope your wrist/pins and needles are better soon.

Tillyxxx

constable

Hi there

I cant advise you, but just wanted to say that I had a fall the other week. I was having a shower and just lost my balance. It is easily done. I do hope you get yourself sorted out soon and start recovering from your fall.

Karen xx